Laurie Roberts: Rep. Bob Thorpe wants to ensure that those leftists at Arizona's three universities don't convince our kids to start calling each other 'comrade.'

The Legislature is one step closer to declaring that the American free-market capitalism is the state’s “official political-economic system.”

Take that, you commies.

If the bill sounds odd – if perhaps you didn’t realize that free-market capitalism was on the ropes here in the Grand Canyon State – there is an explanation for that.

House Bill 2277 is the brainchild of Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff. The Thorpedo, as I like to call him, regularly worries what sort of liberal flapdoodle is being drilled into the minds of Arizona’s young. It is, after all, common knowledge that leftist, Leninist pinkos are running our universities.

Expanding tax credits. At a time when we can’t properly fund public education, Senate Bill 1467 would expand tax credits to pay for private school tuition. This genius idea comes from Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, whose family has long profited from Student Tuition Organizations. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Yet another tax cut. This time, our leaders want to eliminate a sales tax on digital streaming services and software remotely accessed over the internet. But they don’t know how much of a hit this tax cut would be to the state budget. House Bill 2479 already cleared the House last week and its twin, Senate Bill 1392, is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Photo by AP

English only, amigo. House Bill 2083 would make any insurance contract written in Spanish worthless in the event of a legal dispute.
Sponsor: Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria Photo by Mark Henle/The Republic

Redskins? Shhhh. HB 2499 would give any Arizona tribe the right to veto use of a term or image it found offensive at any publicly financed sports stadium or arena.
Bill's sponsor: Rep. Eric Descheenie, D-Chinle Photo by AP

Butt out, voters. HCR 2022 proposes that the state Legislature select party nominees for the U.S. Senate. No need for voters to concern themselves with the primary election.
Bill's sponsor: Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert Photo by Mark Henle/The Republic

Annual attempt to thwart citizen initiatives. SCR 1001 would limit ballot measures to “one subject” that must be spelled out in the initiative title. This, to make it more difficult for citizens to make laws via initiative.
Bill's sponsor: Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Republic

That mustache better be real. HB 2007 would make it a crime to wear a disguise at a protest, political rally or other public event. First Amendment much?
Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale Photo by Pat Shannahan/The Republic

Go away, commies. HB 2277 would ban the use of public money to promote anything that opposes free-market capitalism. This to protect us from 'an alarmingly high percentage of individuals under 40' who apparently prefer socialism, fascism and communism, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff. Photo by AP

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And so he launches all sorts of kooky ideas which generally fizzle on the launch pad.

Last year, Thorpe tried to bar universities from doing anything that might promote "social justice toward a race, gender, religion, political affiliation, social class or other class of people”.

Now, he’s trying to ensure that the apparatchiks over at ASU, UA and NAU don’t brainwash our kids into calling each other "comrade."

As such, “the legislature intends that taxpayer dollars not be used to promote or to provide material support for any political-economic system that opposes the principles of free-market capitalism, including socialism, communism and fascism.”

Bill aims at the under-40 pinko crowd

Thorpe’s bill says polling shows that “an alarmingly high percentage of individuals under 40 years of age” don’t understand “the history and positive national and international impacts of the American political-economic system of free-market capitalism or how America’s public policies have helped to promote individual freedoms, home ownership, private property rights, innovation, economic activity, an abundance of food, an enhanced quality of life and prosperity.”

If that's true, one would think that a boost in state funding for public education might be in order. Maybe reverse some of those deep budget cuts our leaders have inflicted on K-12 schools and universities.

Or….. we could just declare American free-market capitalism as Arizona’s official political-economic system.

Why are we doing this?

On Tuesday, HB 2277 was approved on a 5-2 party line vote by the House Federalism, Property Rights and Public Policy Committee – a committee chaired, coincidentally, by Thorpe.

Republicans went along with Thorpe but I got the feeling they, too, were scratching their heads.

“I don’t know what to say really,” Rep. Noel Campbell, R-Prescott, said, in explaining his vote. “I support you and I want to move this bill but this is so. I don’t even know what to say about it. It’s like. I just, I just I don’t know what to say.”

Even the sponsor says it's toothless

Thorpe knew what to say.

“I think it’s a terrible shame if young people are coming out of the college environment and they have a different perspective that living under fascism, communism, those isms, might be somehow preferable ..,” Thorpe told his colleagues.

“The bill, it’s a statement. It doesn’t have teeth to push free market capitalism but it’s a statement that I think that any reasonable Arizonan would probably embrace.”

Likely so. But then, if we already embrace free-market capitalism, why the need for a toothless bill?